“Receiving the offer was such a happy moment for me”

As OT’s new Pre-reg focus contributors for the coming academic year started their placements, we caught up with them to speak about expectations, fears, and hopes for the next few months.

Zahrah Khan

I graduated from...

City, University of London (now City St George's, University of London).

I will be undertaking my pre-reg placement at...

Moorfields Eye Hospital.

I chose to pursue a career in optometry because...

It was important to me to be in a profession that would not only challenge me, but allow me to diagnose, treat and manage patients – ultimately providing me with the opportunity to make a visible difference to their lives.

My favourite thing about studying optometry was...

How practical and hands-on the course was, learning or refining a new skill every single day.

I chose this mode of practice because...

I knew very early on that I wanted to be in an environment that would challenge me and really refine my clinical skills. Exposure to patients and treatments that I wouldn’t have necessarily seen in High Street practice was something that really excited me.

Securing my pre-reg placement was...

Quite challenging. There were a lot of cover letter drafts and a lot of interview preparation, as well as additional reading that I had to do. But receiving the offer was such a happy moment for me. All the preparation I had done really gave me a knowledge boost before starting my third year at university.

Ahead of starting my pre-reg, I felt...

Really excited. I felt that I had worked really hard for my degree and to get a hospital pre-reg, so I was ready to get stuck in.

The thing I am most excited about is...

Getting involved with hospital contact lenses. Before university I thought the contact lens world just consisted of soft contact lenses, but since then I’ve seen the vast range of lenses and their uses and I’m excited to have more exposure to them.

The thing I am most nervous about is...

The big jump from university to pre-reg, and working full-time whilst studying. I’m aware this year will be quite difficult, and will require some good time management to maintain a balanced life.

 

Habeeb Rahman

I graduated from...

The University of Bradford.

I will be undertaking my pre-reg placement at...

James Bontoft Optometrist, Barnoldswick, and East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust.

I chose to pursue a career in optometry because...

The initial sparks of curiosity that ignited my passion for optometry and set me on a path that has shaped my life journey ever since all started age 12 when I accompanied my father to his routine eye examination. 

I witnessed how the instruments (which seemed magical to me at the time) in the hands of the optometrist revealed a serious health issue, which I later found out to be diabetic retinopathy. The precision and expertise demonstrated by the optometrist in diagnosing his retinal haemorrhage and the genuine care shown for the welfare of my father’s eyes left a lasting impression on me. I realised that optometry isn’t just about vision correction – it’s about safeguarding overall eye health and improving quality of life. This realisation inspired me to pursue a career where I could make a visible difference in people’s lives by protecting and enhancing their vision.

My favourite thing about studying optometry was...

There were many aspects of studying optometry that I enjoyed, but delving into the vast world of ocular pathologies has been one of my favourites. Learning about everything from seemingly simple subconjunctival haemorrhage to intricate and life-threatening papilloedema has been both fascinating and humbling.

Understanding that each condition has its own unique story and that the correct application of diagnostic methodologies and management leads to positive patient outcomes drives me to keep learning and keep expanding both my theoretical knowledge and clinical application. This makes me a better optometrist and allows me to help more patients.

I chose this mode of practice because...

The hybrid model offers variety and depth in my training and provides a unique blend of experiences. The independent practice provides invaluable mentorship from a trusted supervisor with extensive experience, a wealth of knowledge and additional qualifications, including professional and higher certificates in glaucoma and independent prescribing (IP), which align with my own career aspirations.

Completing IP is high on my list of objectives, and observing how this advanced qualification is applied in day-to-day practice is incredibly beneficial. The hospital setting allows me to engage in secondary care within a multidisciplinary team, broadening my understanding of optometry’s integration into overall healthcare settings.

Securing my pre-reg placement was...

A little different, and I often get questions from friends and peers about it. I initially received several offers from High Street multiples, but an unexpected opportunity arose through a recommendation from an optometrist I had worked with during my first year at university.

She introduced me to James Bontoft, who was looking to take on his first pre-reg. After a conversation and a day of shadowing, I knew it was the perfect fit. James’ clinical expertise and his commitment to offering extended services were exactly what I was looking for. In addition to offering a low vision service, glaucoma referral refinement service, and pre-and post-operation cataract services, what stood out to me was the emergency eye care service he provides for the area.

As one of only three community-based independent prescribers who are actively prescribing in East Lancashire, the local hospitals and optometry practices refer patients to him to manage emergency eye conditions. These additional extended services attracted me, and it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.

Ahead of starting my pre-reg, I felt...

Confident, largely thanks to founding Optom Success – a support platform and community specifically designed for pre-regs – in 2023. This community of pre-regs, guided by experienced optometrists, has been instrumental in providing support through weekly webinars and group chats. Having this pool of collective knowledge and support has made the transition into my pre-reg smoother and more manageable.

The thing I am most excited about is...

The opportunity to deepen my clinical knowledge. This is a pivotal time to refine my skills and ensure that I am as prepared as possible to practise independently as an optometrist.

Although I only started my pre-reg in August, I’ve already encountered a wealth of learning experiences, including rare pathologies that have both challenged and expanded my understanding, such as basal-cell carcinoma, iritis, and even the removal of a rust ring from a patient's cornea. All these different experiences are making me better clinically and will ultimately make me a better optometrist.

The thing I am most nervous about is...

The unknown. Having never experienced pre-reg, it’s natural to feel some anxiety and trepidation about what lies ahead. Though I can’t get rid of this feeling altogether, I do feel well-prepared and confident thanks to the large network of optometrists and pre-regs that I have connected with over the years, who I can call upon to help me navigate my journey by relating their own experiences.

My current role as the pre-reg Councillor for the AOP also stands me in good stead and has further strengthened my understanding of the field as a whole and the journey to expect.

My partnerships with the British Contact Lens Association and the College of Optometrists give me a well-rounded view of the profession and I am ready to embrace the challenges of my pre-reg year and make a positive and meaningful impact in the field of optometry.

 

Hannah Silcock

I graduated from...

Glasgow Caledonian University.

I will be undertaking my pre-reg placement at...

Specsavers Stirling.

I chose to pursue a career in optometry because...

It is an interesting mix of maths and science, but it also incorporates getting to know patients of all ages and looking after their vision and eye health.

My favourite thing about studying optometry was...

The variety of clinics at university. These were helpful and a great way to put theoretical knowledge into practice, especially in clinics like myopia or in binocular vision, where we had the opportunity to work alongside orthoptists.

I chose this mode of practice because...

Specsavers provides a great amount of support during pre-reg, like hosting courses to help prepare for visits, and online discussion forums where you can ask questions of other Specsavers colleagues, many of whom are assessors at the College of Optometrists.

Securing my pre-reg placement was...

A bit of a challenge, and I needed to be proactive. It involved a series of conversations with different practices, followed by various application stages with Specsavers. I am glad to have had the experience of being in those interview scenarios.

Ahead of starting my pre-reg, I felt...

Slightly daunted by the various assessments and competencies that are needed to complete the Scheme for Registration, but I’m also looking forward to learning throughout the whole process.

The thing I am most excited about is...

Learning and developing the theories and techniques that were introduced at university, and applying them to help patients in practice.

The thing I am most nervous about is...

Seeing a disease and being unsure of what it is or how best to discuss it with the patient – but I know my supervisor and other optometrists in the practice will be able to help guide me with these new cases.